Chasing Ghosts systematically examines this expensive, exhausting, bewildering, chaotic, and paranoia-inducing process. It evaluates the counterterrorism efforts of the FBI, the National Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and local policing agencies. In addition, it draws from a rich set of case studies to appraise the capacities of the terrorist "adversary" and to scrutinize "the myth of the mastermind." Mueller and Stewart also look closely at public opinion, a key driving force in counterterrorism efforts. The chance that an American will be killed by a terrorist within the country is about one in four million per year under present conditions. However, poll data suggest that, although over a trillion dollars has been spent on domestic counterterrorism since 2001, Americans say they do not feel safer. No defense of civil liberties is likely to be effective as long as people and officials continue to believe that the threat from terrorism is massive, even existential.

1. Official perceptions : the threat matrix -- 2. Public perceptions : perpetual anxiety and war wariness -- 3. Terrorism and the United States -- 4. The foreign adversary and the myth of the mastermind -- 5. Evaluating the counterterrorism enterprise -- 6. The Federal Bureau of Investigation -- 7. The National Security Agency -- 8. The Department of Homeland Security -- 9. Local and airport police -- Conclusion: Horrible imaginings and painted devils -- Appendix A. The cases: Terrorism in the United States since 9/11 -- Appendix B. Assessing the costs inflicted by terrorism -- Appendix C. Marginal costs and benefits of FBI counterterrorism expenditures.